Athletes record PSA's in honor of Black History MonthNick Toon talks about Sidney Williams, the first Black quarterback in the Big Ten

Sidney Williams, Jr.

Feb. 15, 2010

MADISON, Wis. - During the month of February, the University of Wisconsin Athletics program will highlight several athletes and historic moments in recognition of Black History Month. As part of this celebration, current student-athletes have recorded public-service announcements focusing on former UW African-American athletes.

Today Nick Toon, student-athlete and football player at the University of Wisconsin, talks about Sidney B. Williams, Jr., the first African-American quarterback in the modern Big Ten Conference from 1956-58.

To listen to the 60-second PSA or to listen to past student-athlete recordings click here.

To read more about Sidney Williams, Jr., click here. After the end of his trailblazing college career, Williams left campus in 1958 for two years of professional football - one year with the NFL and one season in the Canadian Football League. He received a law degree from George Washington University in 1967 and was for many years a highly-respected patent lawyer for the UpJohn company, being appointed Executive Director of Trademarks and Domestic Patents for the company in 1990.

To learn more about Wisconsin's African-American athletics heritage see the special section Celebrating Wisconsin's Black History section which includes an historic timeline, stories of athlete pioneers, newspaper articles, photos and biographies on many former UW African-American athletes.

The UW Athletic program salutes Lee Kemp, a former student-athlete who has a special place in Badger history. For more on UW Athletics' African-American heritage, visit UWBadgers.com throughout the month of February.